Avalanche Forecast

Moderate Rain events at lower elevation. Over the next several days (particularly Saturday) Rain could arrive up to 1900M of elevation (especially later in the day). This additional rain load could destabilize the upper snowpack with additional rain loading of fresh snow. In addition to Rain and snow events forecasted for Saturday, the increased daytime warming (especially later in the day), coupled with rain on surface snow may cause snow to become more easily triggered. This avalanche problem when triggered is likely to remain small, but on isolated terrain features that are steep, these features will promote a small avalanche to gain mass and result in a large avalanche up to size 2. Expect this avalanche problem to become more prevalent once the incoming rain arrives in addition to rising air temperature (particularly Saturday and into Sunday). Location: On all aspects and found at Below Treeline and up to the Treeline elevation band on Saturday into Sunday depending on extent of forecasted air temperature rise in the afternoon of Saturday Dec 19th. Possibility: Triggering of this avalanche problem is LIKELY from light loads such as skiers. Natural avalanches are possible. Size: If triggered expect these avalanches to be small, and on isolated terrain features large, size 2.

New snow from incoming storm system will rapidly fall on a variety of surfaces. Expect this new avalanche problem to be initially very touchy to light triggers such as skiers or sledders as strong amounts of precipitation and strong to extreme winds arrive on Saturday into Sunday. Location: All aspects and at all elevations. New Storm snow may fall as rain at the Below Treeline Elevation Band. Possibility: Triggering of this avalanche problem is Likely at Alpine to Treeline from light loads such as skiers. Natural avalanches are possible to likely. Size: If triggered expect these avalanches to be small (Size 1) -and large (up to size 2) OR avalanches could appear on isolated terrain features (very large, size 3).

Moderate precipitation in the form of storm snow coupled with strong-extreme winds on Saturday to Sunday could promote wind slab instabilities (particularly in leeward or down wind areas) on Vancouver Island. Expect all Alpine/Treeline environments in leeward/down wind terrain to be likely areas to trigger a wind slab avalanche over the next several days. Location: Leeward and down wind aspects at Alpine and Treeline elevation bands. Possibility: Triggering of this avalanche problem is LIKELY (depending on Elevation) from light loads such as skiers or sledders. Natural avalanches are unlikely to likely (depending on Elevation). Size: If triggered expect these avalanches to be up to size 2 OR avalanches could appear on isolated terrain features (very large, size 3).